Jonathan Teplitzky to direct Colin Firth in The Railway Man

12 September, 2011 by
Brendan Swift

Jonathan Teplitzky is set to direct Colin Firth next year in Australian-UK co-production The Railway Man.

The film is based on Eric Lomax’s book of the same name, which recounts the author's experience as a prisoner of war, working the Japanese line from Thailand to Burma during World War II, and his meeting with his Japanese interrogator almost 50 years later.

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The film will be released locally by Paramount Pictures and Transmission Films. Paramount is expected to release an offical statement about the film shortly.

However, Transmission Films co-founder Richard Payten, who is currently at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), said via email: "This is the ultimate compliment to director Jonathan Teplitzky that the world's most in-demand actor, Colin Firth, has chosen The Railway Man as his next film."

Firth won an Oscar last year for his performance as King Edward VI in The King's Speech.

Teplitzky's latest feature film, Burning Man, will be released on October 27 by Paramount and Transmission and is also screening at TIFF. Teplitzky has also directed crime feature Gettin' Square and recent episodes of TV series Spirited.

Lionsgate is reported to have acquired UK distribution rights to The Railway Man and will handle international sales. According to international reports, the film will be produced by Chris Brown, Andy Paterson, Bill Curbishley, while Lionsgate UK boss Zygi Kamasa will executive produce.